Sanding device for railways and the like



C. SPENCER.

SANDING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-5.1921.

1,404,903. a ed Jan. 31, 1922.

' rn v IIII/ IIIIIfII/I INVENTOR C HRRLES SPENCER SETATEEE PATENT @FFEDE.

CHARLES SPENCER, F HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SANDING DEVICE FOR RAIL WAYS AND THE LIKE.

T0 64% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crmnnns Srnnonu, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in the city of Hamilton, county of VVentworth, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanding Devices for Railways and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sanding devices for railways and the like, and the object of the invention is to devise an apparatus for delivering sand to the rails in which the possibility ofclogging of the apparatu is reduced to a minimum, a further object is to prevent waste of the sand and a still -further object is to provide an apparatus which will be very accessible in all its parts.

My invention consists of an ordinary sand container having an orifice therein, a suction member secured to the container and extending through said orifice, said suction member adapted to draw heated air through the body of sand in the container and also to draw sand from the container, suitable pipes for carrying the sand thus drawn from the container and delivering at v the desired point on the rails, all'as hereinafter more particularly described in the ac companying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section showing my invention, the sand container being shown broken away to economize space, also one of the shoes broken intermediately for the same purpose.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the form of the end of one of the sand delivering pipes used in my invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectionon the line 1-, 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing the form of the end of a spring used in supporting the dome.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patentefl Jan 31 1922 Application filed February 5, 1921.

Serial No. 442,769.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

1 is the sand container which has an orilies 2 in the bottom thereof.

3 is a suction member comprising the main tubular body portion 4 having an axial passageway 5 therein.

This passageway 5 is funnel shaped at its upper end at 6. Directly below the funnel shaped portion 6 .is a cylindrical portion 7. Immediately below the portion 7, the bore of the passageway 5 is increased at 8 and from this enlargement the walls converge to form a tapered portion 9, at the-lower end of which a waist is formed at 10, the diameter at the waist being only slightly greater than that of the cylindrical portion 7 From the waist 10 the suction member terminates in two Y-bra-nches 11 which are threaded at 12 to receive the delivering pipes 13. v

is an enlarged head formed on the member 3 and comprises the depending annular flange and the upper inclined face 16. This head 14 constitutes a suction head within the sand container.

The suction member 3 is connected to the sand container 1 so that the annular flange 15 extends upwardly through the orifice 2- and is secured by bolts 17 extending through orifices in a flange l8 and having threaded engagement in orifices in the bottom of the container 1. 19 are spring washers locking the screws 17.

The junction of the wall 20 of the annular flange 15 with the inclined face 16 is rounded as at 21. i

22 is an open ended tube having the bore 23 and fits tightly into the cylindrical portion 7 of the member 3.

This tube extends downwardly and has its lower extremity located adjacent to the waist .10. Between this tube and the walls 9 is formed a tapered annular chamber9 24 is a circular dome which is supported above the head 14 by the spring strips 25. The inner ends of these spring strips 25 are hooked at 26 (see Fig. 5) to receive the lower partof the dome.

The inner ends of the strips are secured to the inclined face 16 or" the head 14 by the screws 27.

In mounting the dome 2 1 the lower edge thereof engages the hooks 26 or the strips 25 and it is secured by screws 29 which engage orifices 30 in the dome. These orifices 30 are larger than the screws 29 so that the dome is not rigidly secured but is free to move up and down slightly due to the play of the screws 29 within the orifices 30.

The spring strips 25 are so shaped that they form a resilient support for the dome 21-. V V 31 is a threaded plug engaging an orifice 32 in the member 3 located between the Y branches 11 and centrally opposite the end of the tube 22.

33 is a boss carried at one side of the member 3 and having a passage 34 extending therethrough and communicating with the upper portion of the tapered annular passage 9 The outer end, of the passage 3% venience in assembling the apparatus and is threaded to receive the compressed air supply pipe 35. 35 is a valve for controlling the supply of compressed air and is operated by the connection leading to the control station oi the car.

The two pipes 13 connected to the branches 11 lead laterally and are connected at 36 to pipes 37.

Since only the connections leading from the left hand branch 11 have been illustrated,- the description will be confined to this side only but it will of course be understood thatthe right hand branch will comprise identical parts.

The pipe 37 has a cut away portion 38 adjacent to its outer end (see left of Fig. 1) the outer edge of this cut away portion being provided with notches 39 for a pun pose as will presently appear.

Thepipe 37 is further provided with an orifice 40 located diametrically opposite to the cut away portion'38.

ll is a shoe consisting of a pipe closed at its upper end and tapered laterally at its lower end to form a narrow elongated slot 42 extending parallel to the rail 43.

Near the upperend of the shoe 41 it is provided with an orifice 4: 1 adapted to receive the end of the pipe 37 for detachably mounting the shoe upon the pipe.

Diametrically opposite the orifice 44 shoe has a further smaller orifice 45. V

'46 is a securing finger which carries the inner nut 47 at its outer end and has its inner end formed into the hook 418. The shank of the finger carries the coil spring 49 and the washer 50.

the

is inclined slightly downward. for con-' The inner end of the finger is adapted to extend through the orifice and to engage the notches 39 in the pipe 37 for securing the shoe 4:1 in place 011 the pipe 37.

The lengths of the pipe 37 and of the shoe 11 are so arranged that the slot 1 2 is located in the desired position directly above the rail.

The pipe 37 is provided with a number of notches39 for a purpose as will hereinafter appear.

51 is a suction whistle and 52 is a pipe leading from this whistle into proximity to the suction head 14. i y

53 (see Fig. 1) indicates any heating element located at the top of the sand container.

The construction and operation of my device is as follows:

Considering the container 1 to be full of sand, the weight of the sand above the dome 24 will cause the level of the sand under the dome, to rise slightly above the bottom edge thereof and the sand will thus follow slightly up the inclined face 16 of the head 14.

Now suppose the valve 35 is opened advacuum will be produced directly at the, lower end of the passage 23 at the point A.

(See Fig. 1.) r

This vacuum will produce a suction under the dome 24 and sand will be drawn into the funnel 6 and downwardly through the passage 23. As soon as the sand emerges from the lower end of: the passage 23, it will be carried by the air from the chamber 9 outwardly through the branches 11 to the shoes 41.

It willbe evident that in addition to the sand being drawn into the suction member that air will also be drawn downwardly through'the body of sand in the container.

If now some provision, such as a heating element 53, be made for heating this air before it enters the container, it will be evident that whenever the apparatus is operated, a current of heated air will be drawn through the body of sand in the container and thus remove objectionable moisture therefrom.

When the apparatus is operating the suction under the dome 24 will draw same downwardly against the pressure of the spring strips 25, but as soon as the compressed air is shut off the suction will disappear and thus the springs will tend to raise the dome.

It therefore the compressed air valve 35 be operated with an intermittance action, which will be the case in practice, the dome will have a slight vibrating motion which will aid the flow of sand. In order to increase this vibrating effect the holes 30 are madelarger than the screws 29 so that the dome is not rigidly mounted on the springs 25. i

The suction whistle 51 will sound whenever the vacuum is produced and will be a signal to the operator indicating the con dition of the apparatus.

The valve 35 would of course be connected in a suitable manner so that it could be operated by the motorman from his control station. This connection is indicated diagrammatically at 35 It will be seen that the apparatus described constitutes what might be termed a suction head within the sand container, the action of which is to draw sand from the container and also to draw heated air from outside through the body of the sand towards the suction head.

The method of delivering the sand from the suction member to the rails will now be described.

As already stated the branches 11 lead laterally towards each rail.

In order to mount the detachable shoe 41 it is simply placed so that the end of the pipe 37 extends through the orifice 44 in the shoe. The shoe is secured in place by engaging the hook 48 ofthe finger 46 in one of the notches 39. The coil spring 49 prevents disengagement.

The shape and length of the pipes are so arranged that in this positionthe slot 42 of the shoe is in the desired position over the rail 43.

Since it is desirable that the sand be de-, posited quietly upon the rail and not blown thereon, it is desirable to remove the force of the current of air which carries the sand from the bottom of the suction tube 22 to the pipes 37.

This is accomplished in my invention by the peculiar construction of the shoe 41 an outlet of the pipe 37.

The cut away portion 38 is located on the upper side of the pipe 37 so that the air as it enters the shoe is deflected upwardly against the top and then again deflected downwardly.

The path of the sand will be much the same as that of the air, some will be deflected upwardly through the cut away portion 38 while some will strike against the outer wall of the shoe.

In either case the course of the sand is changed and all velocity which it had in the pipes 13 and 37 is eliminated.

Further the shoe 41 is of considerably greater diameter than the pipe 37 which will allow expansion and further reduce the force of the current of air.

Inthis way the sand will drop freely onto the rail by gravity and will not be blown thereonto.

If desired an orifice 40 might be provided on the under face of the pipe 37.

In order to permit a certain amount of flexibility and adjustment, a number of notches 39 are provided to allow the cut away portion 38 of the pipe 37 to be placed in various inclined positions. This will be clearly followed from Figures 3 and 4, the straight pipe 37 being turned at the joint 36 to eflect the adjustment.

To provide for ease and convenience in cleaning and in assembling, the large plug 31 is fitted at the Y-branch. When this is removed it provides a clear unobstructed straight passage through the member 3.

The assembling and adjustments of the shoe 41 are very conveniently accomplished since, to remove the shoe it is only necessary to depress andturn the finger 46.

Inthis way the shoe can be easily removed soas to be out of the way of the workmen engaged on the under carriage or to provide clearance in case of snow or such like.

Hitherto one of thegreat d'ifliculties experienced in the use of sanding devices has been the clogging of the sand, with the resuit that the flow of sand is interfered with or entirely stopped.

This has been due to the sand becoming moist and sticky and in cold weather freezing, into'a more or less solid mass in the container.

These weaknesses were, ofcourse, present in the ordinary gravity feed type and with a view of improving the flow of the sand various types using compressed air were develo'ped.

These comprised anair nozzle within the sand container disposed in proximity to the openingof the sand pipe leading from the container to the rails. The sand in the container was packed about the nozzle and pipe opening and when compressed air was the pipe.

It is'with a view of overcoming these difli:

eulties' formerly experienced, that my improved apparatushas'been devised.

It will be seen that in my apparatus the the moist compressed air does not ever come in contact with the sand in the container, but in fact does not meetthe sand untilv the latter emerges from the lower end of the tube 23 and enters the large pipes 11 after which point there is no possibility of clogging.

operated with an intermittent action, the.

current of heated air willbedrawn through thesand in the container in pulsations and not continuously which will further prevent caking. of the sand and keep it loosely packed and in a proper condition to be drawn into the suction head 14:. Also the slight rise and fall of the dome will assist this action.

. Apartfrom the efi'ect of thecompressed air moistening the sandin the container, in formerdevlces where the sand slmply lies in'a container exposed to the atmosphere, it

naturally 'bec'omes'moist with the aforementioned undesirable results;

In my apparatus this is not the case, as the Saudis not exposed to the ordinary atmospheric conditions but is continually being dried.

It will be noticed that in my apparatus no leakage of sand from the container can take place as the sandcannot possibly flow except when drawn up into the tube 23 by suction. 7

VVhileI have illustrated and described one formin-which my invention may be made, it is to be understood that various'modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the'scope of the claims and the form shown is to betaken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

For instance, the heating element 53 shown in F ig. 1,'is diagrammatic only to indicate any means of heating the air entering thesand container. This could be accomplished by arranging the top of the contuiner in communication with the ordinary warm air in the car so that as the apparatus was operated the warm air from thercar would be drawn through the sand container.

Also while I have shown a separate tube 22 fitted into. the member 3, it might'be possible or desirable that this would be constructed integrally with the member 3 all in one casting.

Further while I have described particularly the use of'compressed air, my apparatus could also be operated by steam in which Further whenever the: device is operated,

case the action would be the same as that already described. The advantage in thiscase over former types would be even more marked since the steam would have more tendency to moisten the sand in these for mer devices whereas in mine there would still be no moistening effect on the sandin the container.

Again while I have shown my apparatus as fitted to the bottom o'f'the sand container,

it could, with slight obvious modifications,

be fitted in any desired position thereto.

From the foregoing it will be'seenfthat I have devised an improved sanding de Y vice for use on street cars, railways and't-he like which will be very reliable'in' operation, which will no't'be'afiecte'd by climatic conditions and in which no Waste of sand can occur. 7

What I claim as my invention i'sa 1. In a sanding device for'railways' and the like, the combination with" the sand container and the sand therein, of suction means for withdrawing sand from the; container and ferdrewing acurrent' ofheat'ed" air through the body of sand in the con tainer. I I e 2. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with" the sand con tainer and the sand therein, of a suction member carried by the conta1ner,-sa1d member comprising an open ended tubular por tron communlcating with the conta1ner,'the

suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of said tubular portion, said annular chamberbeing closed at 1ts lnner end and open atits'outer end, means for admittmga pressure fluid to theinner end of the annular chamber, said pres sure fluid rushing outwardly through the chamber and creating a vacuum atithe open outer end of the tubular portion.

3. In a sanding device for railways andhe like,-thecombination with the sand container and the sand therein, of a suction member carried by the container, said menu ber comprisingan open ended tubular portion,communicating with the container, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the'outer part of saidtubular portion and being closed at its'inner end and tapering towards its outer end to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the aforesaid tubular portion l. In a sanding device" for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container'and the sand therein, of a suction member carried by thecontainer, said member comprising an open ended tubular portion, communicating with the container, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of said tubular portion and being closed at its-inner end and tapering towards its outer end to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the aforesaid tubular portion and means for admitting a pressure fiuid to the upper end of the annular cham- 5. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of an open ended tubular member communicating with the container, a bafiie plate supported within the container over the open inner end of the tubular member and in spaced relation thereto and means for producing a vacuum at the outer end of said tubular member whereby the contents of the container are drawn outwardly through the tubular member.

6. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of an open ended tubular member communicating with the container, a dome shaped bafiie member resiliently supported within the container over the open inner end of the tubular member and in spaced relation thereto and means for producing a vacuum atthe outer end of said tubular member'whereby the contents of the container are drawn outwardly through the tubular member.

7 In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of a suction member secured to the container, said suction member comprising a flanged head extending into the container, an open ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suction member from the inner end thereofithe suction member having an annular chamber, surrounding the outer part of the tubular portion and being closed'at its inner end and tapering towards its outer end to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular'portion, a

transverse passageway in thesuction member communicatlng with the enlarged upper end of the annular chamber and a compressed air supply pipe engaging the outer end of said passageway. v I

8. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combinationwith the sand container and the sand therein, of asuction member secured to the container, said suction member comprising-a flanged head extending into thecontainer, an open ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suction member from theinner end thereof, the suction memberhaving an annular chamber, surrounding the outer part of the tubular portion and being'closed at its inner end and tapering towar its outer end to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular portion, a passageway in the "suction member communicating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pressurefluid fthereinto and a bafiie member supported within the container over the head endto iorma narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular portion, a passageway in the suction member communicating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pressure fluid thereinto and a dome shaped member resiliently supported within the container over the head of the suction member and in spaced relation thereto.

104.111 2. sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container, and'the sand therein, of a suction member secured to the container, said suction member comprising a flanged head ex- 7 tending into the container, an open ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suctionmember fromthe inner end thereof, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of the tubular'portion and being closed at its inner end and tapering towards its outer end to. form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular P01131011, a passageway inthe suction member'oommun'icating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pressurefluid thereinto, a dome shaped member resiliently supported within the container over the head of the suction member and in spaced relation thereto, and means for imparting a vibrating motion to the dome shaped member.

' 11. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of a suction member secured to the container, said suction member comprising a flanged head extending into the container, an open ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suction member from the inner end thereof, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of the tubular portion'and being closed at its inner end and tapering towards its outerend to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular portion, a passageway in the suction member communicating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pres sure fiuidthereinto and a dome shaped memthe like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of a suction head communicating with the container,

means for producing a suction at the suction head whereby sand is drawn from the container into the suction head, and a suction whistle actuated by the suction at the suction head.

14. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand therein, of a suction member secured to the container, said suction member comprising a flanged head .extending into the container, an open ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suction member from the inner end thereof, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of the tubular portion and being closed at its inner end and tapering towards its outer .end to form a narrow annularnozzle about the open outer end of the tubular portion,

' a passageway in the suction member commu nicating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pressure fluid thereinto, a dome shaped member resiliently supported within the container over the head of the suction member; and in spaced relation thereto and means for intermittently admitting the pressure fluid to the annular chamber.

: 15. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the, sand therein, of a suction member secured to the bottom of the contain-er, said suction member comprising a flanged head extending upwardly into the container, an open-ended tubular portion extending longitudinally into the suction member from the inner end thereof, the suction member having an annular chamber surrounding the outer part of the tubular portion and being closed at its inner end and tapering towards its outer end to form a narrow annular nozzle about the open outer end of the tubular portion, a passageway in the suction member communicating with the upper enlarged end of the annular chamber for admitting a pressure fluid thereinto, and a dome shaped member resiliently supported within the container over the head of the suction member 16. In adevice of the class described, a suction member comprising an inverted .Y- shaped body having axial communicating passageways extending through the central and side branches thereof, a flanged head on the central branch having the end face thereof inclined, an openended tubular portion in the central branch, the walls of the passage in this branch being so formed as to constitute an annular chamber closed at its upper end and tapering towards its lower end and forming a narrow annular nozzle about the open lower. end of the tubular portion, a transverse passage in the central branch communicating with the upper end of the tapered annular chamber and an air sup ply pipe connected to the outer end of said transverse passage.

17. In a device of the class described, a suction member comprising an inverted Y- shaped body having axial communicating passageways extending through the central and side branches thereof, a flanged head on the central branch having the end face thereof inclined, an open ended tubular portion in the central branch, the lower end of said tubular portion located approximately at the base of the Y-branches, the walls of the passage in this branch being so vformed as to constitute an annular-chamber closed at its and in spacedrelation thereupp'er end and tapering towards its lower end and forming a narrow annular nozzle about the open lower end of the tubular portion, a transverse passage in the central branch communicating with the upper end of the tapered annularehamber and an air supply pipe connectedto theouter end of said transverse passage.

18. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the rails, the

sand container, thesand therein and the sand delivery pipe leading'from the container, of a shoe detachably connected to the outer end of said pipe and adapted to receive the sand therefrom, said shoe comprising a pipe closed at its upper end and having its lower end formed into an'elongated narrow slot disposed vertically above and parallel to the rai r 19. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container, the sand therein, the rails and the sand conveying system between the container and rails, of adetachably mounted shoe located above, each rail and adapted to deposit the sand thereon, said shoes each having a narrow elongated slot disposed parallel to and directlyabove. the rail.

20. In asanding deviceior railways and the like, the combination with the .sand cox1- 'tainer, sand therein, and the delivery pipes leading from the container,of a current of a r passing outwardly through said'delivery pipes and battle means Within said pipes for deflecting the current of air to reduce its velocity to a minimum at its point of exit from said pipes.

21. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the sand delivery pipe and the rail, of a detachably mounted shoe having a narrow elongated slot disposed vertically above and parallel to the rail.

22. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand cone tainer and the sand delivery pipes leading therefrom, of a substantially horizontal portion at the outer end of each pipe, a portion of the upper face of said horizontal portion being cut away and a tubular shoe having an orifice in the side thereof, the aforesaid horizontal outer end of the i e extendin through said orifice into the shoe.

23. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand container and the sand delivery pipes leading therefrom, of a substantially horizontal portion at the outer end of each pipe, a portion of the upper face of said horizontal portion orifice in the side thereof, the aforesaid horizontal outer end of the pipe extending through said orifice into the shoe, and a clamping means for detachably securing the shoe in position on the pipe.

24. In a sanding device for railways and the like, the combination with the sand con tainer and the sand delivery pipes leading therefrom, of a substantially horizontal portion at the outer end of each pipe, a portion of the upper face of said horizontal portion being cut away and a tubularshoe having an orifice in the side thereof, the aforesaid horizontal outer end of the pipe extending through said orifice into the shoe and a clamping means for detachably securing the shoe in position on the pipe and adapted to be turned so that the cut away portion may be adjusted to various angular positions.

CHARLES SPENCER.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. HAYWARD. Norman Comes. 

